ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Safety and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines
As per New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019  under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and in light of urgent need due to COVID pandemic in the country, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation  in consultation with Subject Expert Committee  has granted permission to manufacture the following COVID-19 vaccines.
Covaxin vaccine is being manufactured by M/s Bharat Biotech International Limited. The firm had submitted interim safety and immunogenicity data of Phase I and II clinical trials carried out in the country along with safety data including Serious Adverse Event  data of the ongoing Phase III clinical trial in the country. The data was reviewed by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation  in consultation with Subject Expert Committee  comprising domain knowledge experts. The committee noted that this vaccine is Inactivated Whole Virion Corona Virus Vaccine having potential to target mutated corona virus strains. The data demonstrated a strong immune response  and in-vitro viral neutralization. The ongoing clinical trial is a large trial on 25800 Indian subjects in which all 25800 subjects have already been enrolled. Moreover, the firm presented the safety and efficacy data from Non-human primate challenge study also to CDSCO, where the vaccine has been found to be safe and effective.
After detailed deliberations, the SEC recommended grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains.
Based on the recommendations of SEC, CDSCO has granted permission to M/s Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad to manufacture Covaxin vaccine for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode with various conditions/restrictions.
M/s Serum Institute of India Pvt., Ltd. Pune has submitted safety immunogenicity & efficacy data of phase II/III clinical trials of AstraZeneca vaccine carried out in UK, Brazil and South Africa along with the safety & immunogenicity data from the ongoing Phase II/III clinical trial in the country. The Subject Expert Committee  of CDSCO reviewed the proposal of restricted emergency use along with above details and the data received. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency  approval for AstraZeneca vaccine on 30.12.2020 along with its conditions/restrictions was also reviewed by the committee.
The committee noted that the safety & immunogenicity data presented by the firm from the Indian study is comparable with that of the overseas clinical trial data.
Based on the recommendations of SEC, CDSCO granted permission to Serum Institute of India to manufacture COVISHIELD vaccine for restricted use in emergency situation with various conditions/restrictions.
The Minister of State , Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Secretary DPIIT says increase in FDI limit in Insurance Sector will have positive impact on the Indian Economy
Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatratoday said that increase in FDI limit from 49% to 74% in Insurance Companies announced in the Union Budget 2021-22 will have positive impact on the Indian economy.
While briefing the media here, he said that under the new structure, the majority of Directors on the Board and key management persons would be resident Indians, with at least 50% of Directors being Independent Directors, and specified percentage of profits being retained as general reserve.Amendment in the Insurance Act, 1938 will increase the permissible FDI limit from 49% to 74% in Insurance Companies and allow foreign ownership and control with safeguards.
Speaking about the Benefits of this, Dr.Mahahpatra said that itwill enable global insurance companies to take more strategic and long-term view on the Insurance sector in India, thereby bringing in greater inflow of long-term capital, global technology, processes, international best practices. He said that the end consumer will also be benefited fromit as it will boost competition, enable consolidation and increase insurance penetration, leading to more innovative and affordable products for the end-consumer.
He said that scaling up of insurance operations would lead to significant employment of semi-skilled insurance agents and sales force. And the Strong and vibrant insurance sector willalso support long-term investments in infrastructure projects which have long-gestation period. The proposed increase will bring insurance sector at par with the private banking sector where FDI up to 74 % is allowed. Higher FDI limits will enable insurance companies to meet their capital requirements, thereby reducing the burden on Banks, NBFCs to raise capital for insurance companies, he added.
Speaking about the Regional benefits he said that Mumbai , NCR, Bangalore , Hyderabad  having high density of headquarters and offices of insurance providers will also benefit. This will also support emergence of GIFT City, Ahmedabad as India’s leading financial/Fintech hub. Existing and emerging metro hubs having higher disposable incomes and financial literacy including Kolkata, Jaipur, Surat, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Patna, Agra etc. also stand to benefit.
Prime Minister's Office
PM-MITRA mega textile parks will bolster productivity, foster innovation and generate many employment opportunities: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the foundation stone laying of 2 PM-MITRA mega textile parks in Maharashtra and Gujarat over the last few days.
The Prime Minister tweeted;
“Over the last few days, foundation stones for 2 PM-MITRA mega textile parks have been laid. These parks will come up in Amravati, Maharashtra and Navsari, Gujarat. They will bolster productivity, foster innovation and generate many employment opportunities. “
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
High Level Committee for Distribution and Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines
A National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19  has been establishe, which provides guidance on all aspects of COVID-19 vaccination including prioritization of population groups, procurement and inventory management, vaccine selection, vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism etc.
NEGVAC is chaired by Member , NITI Aayog and co-chaired by Secretary . NEGVAC has representation of Secretaries from Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Expenditure, Dept. of Biotechnology, Dept. of Health Research, Dept. of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, representative from five State Governments and technical experts.
NEGVAC has prioritized Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers during the initial phase of COVID-19 vaccination followed by prioritized population groups of persons aged 50 years and above, and those aged less than 50 years with comorbidities. The vaccination of Health Care Workers is going on.
During the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination, the vaccine is being provided by the Central Government, free of cost to States and UTs for vaccination of Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers.
The Minister of State , Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Ministry of Education
Decision on CBSE Board Exams
The Hon’ble Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting today to review the examinations to be held at various levels in view of the developing Corona situation. Union Education Minister, ShriRameshPokhriyalNishank, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, School and Higher Education Secretaries and other top officials attended the meeting.
The Prime Minister reiterated that the well being of the students has to be the top priority for the Government. He also stated that the Centre would keep in mind the best interests of the students and ensure that their health is taken care of at the same time their academic interests are not harmed.
An overview was given on the X and XII board exam to be held from next month. The Board exam for class X and XIIconducted by CBSE are scheduled to begin from 4th May, 2021. The pandemic situation in the country is seeing a resurgence of COVID 19 positive cases in many states, with a few states having been affected more than others. In this situation, schools have been shut down in 11 states. Unlike State Boards, CBSE has an all-India character, and therefore, it is essential to hold exams simultaneouslythroughout the country. Looking to the present situation of the pandemic and school closures, and also taking in account the safety and well-being of the students,it is decided as follows:
- The Board Exams for Class XIIthto be held from May 4thto June, 14th, 2021 are hereby postponed. These exams will be held hereafter. The situation will be reviewed on 1st June 2021 by the Board, and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations.
- The Board Exams for Class Xth to be held from 4thMay to June 14th, 2021 are hereby cancelled. The results of Class Xth Board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the Board. Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him/her on this basis will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Embryo Transplant
The current coverage of Artificial Insemination  across India is about 30%. The A.I coverage during 2018-19 in the Districts of Jhalawar and Baran was 9% and 6% respectively. Government is promoting usage of sex sorted semen. As envisaged under the scheme , Rashtriya Gokul Mission  establishment of sex sorted semen facility has been approved at 12 A graded semen stations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh in the country.
To increase the A.I coverage in the country, Government has launched Nationwide Artificial Insemination programme  in 600 districts having less than 50% A.I coverage covering 100 villages per district and 200 bovines per village. During the programme, 1.20 Cr animals are proposed to be covered. As on 5.12.2019, 4.73 Lakh animals are covered. Future roadmap has been prepared by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for enhancing the A.I coverage from present 30% to 70% and the additional fund requirement has been made with Ministry of Finance.
Annual target set under the project for the 12 sex sorted semen facilities is 2.4 million doses. So far, facility for production of 6 lakh doses/annum is made functional. Till date 3 lakh doses have been produced. Under RGM, establishment of 30 Embryo Transfer Technology / In-Vitro Fertilization  Labs have been sanctioned and funds have already been released to the States. It is envisaged that 3000 high genetic merit bulls of Indigenous breed will be produced thro ETT/IVF technology to meet the shortage of bulls in the country. Current production of Fisheries is 13.42 MMT and the target set for 2020-21 is 15.90 MMT. No report of overfishing of sharks in Indian Ocean is received in the Department of Fisheries, Government of India.
This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan in Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM’s message on National Panchayati Raj Day
PM’s message on National Panchayati Raj Day
(The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted all the hardworking individuals serving people through Panchayati Raj institutions across India.
In his message the Prime Minister said:
“On National Panchayati Raj Day I salute all the hardworking individuals serving people through Panchayati Raj institutions across India.
Panchayats are effective ways to fulfil aspirations of people in rural India. They are playing a vital role in India's transformation.
Through all-round progress and grassroots level participation, our Government is working towards making 'Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday’ a reality.”
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Global Crude oil price of Indian Basket was US$ 60.57 per bbl on 16.11.2017
The international crude oil price of Indian Basket as computed/published today by Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell  under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was US$ 60.57 per barrel  on 16.11.2017. This was higher than the price of US$ 60.36 per bbl on previous publishing day of 15.11.2017.
In rupee terms, the price of Indian Basket increased to Rs 3954.83 per bbl on 16.11.2017 as compared to Rs. 3945.36 per bbl on 15.11.2017. Rupee closed stronger at Rs. 65.30 per US$ on 16.11.2017 as compared to 65.37 per US$ on 15.11.2017. The table below gives details in this regard:
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Particulars
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Unit
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Price on November 16, 2017 
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|
Crude Oil 
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60.57 
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|
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3954.83 
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Exchange Rate
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65.30 
AD/SA Daily Crude Oil Price
(
Prime Minister's Office
PM praises “Abhilekh patal” a portal with over 1 Crore Pages of Historical Records of the National Archives
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised “Abhilekh patal” a portal with over 1 Crore Pages of Historical Records of the National Archives.
The Prime Minister tweeted in response to a tweet thread by the National Archives:
"This is something which will interest those who are passionate about history and culture."
President's Secretariat
President hosts Belgian King, invites participation in Indian growth story
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, received His Majesty King Philippe and Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today . He also hosted a banquet in their honour.
Welcoming the King and the Queen to India, the President said he was happy to know that India holds a special place for them and for the Belgian Royal family. He said that this State Visit is even more special as India and Belgium are celebrating 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
The President said that India and Belgium enjoy warm and friendly relations. Our shared values of democracy, rule of law, pluralism and respect for human rights bind us together. World War I forms part of our shared history. Thousands of Indian soldiers fought and sacrificed for Belgium. We in India appreciate the Government of Belgium’s efforts towards recognising their valour and sacrifice.
The President said economic relations form the core of the Indo-Belgian partnership. Bilateral trade is growing but we can do a lot more together. We must see how we can replicate the success of the diamond industry in other sectors. The Indian economy is on a steady growth path. Our Make in India, Clean India, Smart Cities and other initiatives offer immense opportunities for Belgian investors. Belgium has global expertise in building and managing ports. India has an ambitious Sagarmala project to develop its port sector. We seek participation of Belgian companies in this regard.
Subsequently, in his banquet speech, President Kovind said that the remarkable transformation of the Belgian economy following the World Wars made Belgium a key player in intra-Europe trade and connectivity. It has, ever since, remained at the vanguard of Europe’s industrial progress. He stated that at the present juncture, when India is engaging with the world to bring new energy to its development, we welcome Belgian participation in our growth story.
The President said that Belgium has been instrumental in the process of uniting Europe into a successful single market. The Government of Belgium has remained committed to the European Union project. India, too, sees the European Union as a factor of stability in a changing world and sincerely wishes its people every success.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Cab Safety measures for Women recommended by WCD Ministry included in the New Taxi Policy Guidelines
The safety measures, recommended by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, concerning safety of women commuters availing of cab services have been included in the new Taxi Policy Guidelines. These measures have been recommended by the WCD Minister , Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping .
The recommendations come in the background of numerous cases of sexual harassment of women in cabs being reported to Smt. Maneka Gandhi on social media after women took to Twitter and Facebook to flag their ordeal.
Following this, the WCD Minister held a meeting with radio cab service providers to find a solution to the grave problem. Based on this, the WCD Minister wrote to Sh. Nitin Gadkari , Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping to incorporate the necessary safety measures in the regulatory guidelines being prepared by MoRTH.
Recommendations of WCD Ministry included in the New Taxi Policy Guidelines:
•The taxis should be mandatorily fitted with GPS panic devices.
•For the safety of women and child passengers, the central locking system in the taxis should not be allowed.
•The driver's identification along with the photo and registration number of the vehicle should also be prominently displayed in the taxi.
•Violation of the stipulated rules by the taxi operators/drivers should be strictly dealt in accordance with law.
•Sharing of seat should be subject to willingness of passengers.
The recommendations made by the WCD Minister have now been approved for inclusion in the regulatory guidelines. Smt. Gandhi has thanked Sh. Nitin Gadkari for accepting the recommendations to help implement measures for increased safety of women in taxis/cabs.
Women commuters have been expressing their concern via social media to Smt Maneka Gandhi regarding safety in taxis. The WCD Minister has launched a hashtag, #HelpMeWCD, where any woman or child facing harassment/ violence can directly report their cases by tweeting.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
NHA is launching a lightweight HMIS and inviting healthcare providers to participate in its beta-testing
The National Health Authority  is releasing the beta version of a lightweight, robust, and ABDM-compliant Hospital Management Information System . This HMIS solution is envisioned to provide a digital platform for healthcare providers, particularly focusing on private clinics and small health facilities.
NHA is the nodal agency for implementing Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission  which aims to develop the backbone for the digital health infrastructure in India. In line with this vision, it is leveraging the strengths of the CoWIN module to develop a new HMIS solution. This will accelerate the digitization of small clinics and improve the discoverability of healthcare providers in India.
The beta version of this HMIS offers the following features:
- ABDM compliant – Allows doctors to generate and fetch ABHA  for their patients.
- Facility Management – Allows doctors to manage their calendar, appointments, and patient details in a single window
- Digital Services – Allows doctors to view previous health records and prescriptions for registered patients and take video consultations
- e-prescription Services – Generate and share digital standardized prescriptions using a range of parameters with options to modify/customize the prescription layout
Healthcare providers can now use this new solution, share their valuable feedback, and play a role in shaping India’s digital healthcare ecosystem. Feedback from healthcare providers will be incorporated into the ABDM-enabled software to make it more robust. The HMIS can be accessed at https://docmitrabeta.abdm.gov.in/. A user manual for accessing the features and using the HMIS is also available on the same link.
To increase adoption and seek feedback on the HMIS from healthcare providers across the country, NHA will be organizing a virtual beta-testing workshop on 4th January, 2023 wherein healthcare providers will be invited to provide their valuable suggestions and become a part of India’s digital health revolution. Interested healthcare professionals can register here for the workshop - https://abdm.nha.gov.in/docmitra
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets the people of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, on their Statehood Day
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, on their Statehood Day.
“On the occasion of their Statehood Day, greetings to the wonderful people of Mizoram. We are proud of the rich culture of this state. Those belonging to Mizoram have excelled in many spheres and contributed to India’s growth. Praying for Mizoram’s development in the coming years.
Best wishes to the people of Arunachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day. This state is synonymous with patriotism and unwavering commitment to national progress. Praying for Arunachal Pradesh’s continuous growth”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Several measures taken to enhance ease of travel for passengers
Average monthly passenger handling capacity at Delhi & Mumbai airports stand at 74 million and 60 million respectively
In the first phase, Digi Yatra launched at Delhi, Bangalore, Varanasi, Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada & Hyderabad Airports
India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world and is already the third largest domestic aviation market. At present, there are 30 international airports in the country. The average monthly footfall and annual passenger handling capacity of international airports for the year 2022-23 are at Annexure.
The Government has taken several measures to enhance the ease of travel for passengers such as capacity enhancement through infrastructural changes in existing terminals, installation and commissioning of additional X-ray machines for baggage check, deployment of additional manpower by CISF , airlines and airport operators, management of slot allocation, co-ordination with airlines to avoid bunching of flights etc. Additionally, to provide seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports, the Government has launched Digi Yatra for biometric-based travel using Facial Recognition Technology. In the first phase, Digi Yatra has been launched at Delhi, Bangalore, Varanasi, Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada and Hyderabad Airports.
The upgradation of infrastructures/facilities at airports is a continuous process, which is undertaken by the AAI or the concerned Airport Operators depending upon operational requirements, traffic, demand, commercial feasibility etc. Moreover, Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme  - UDAN  on 21.10.2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable for the masses. Besides, both AAI and other PPP Airport Operators have embarked upon a Capex Plan for more than Rs.98,000 crore including around Rs.25,000 crore by AAI during 2019-24 for development/ upgradation/ modernisation of various brownfield airports and developing Greenfield Airports to meet the passenger growth and make air travel safer, comfortable and customer friendly.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen.  V. K. Singh  in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.